Marie Kondo sparked a revolution in tidying up by using joy as a measuring stick for what to keep and what to toss. For many, this is also the right metric for choosing the right cleaning products. Because whether or not my choice in soap has a significant impact on the global ecological system, it brings me more joy when I know I’m doing my part to take care of my little corner of the earth.
Maybe just as importantly, it brings me joy at the local level to know that I’m not slathering potentially toxic health hazards all over the tiny RV that I’m about to sit in for hours on end. Fortunately, so much progress has been made in earth-friendly cleaning supplies that you no longer have to choose between something that works and something that makes you feel good.
Here are six products that pass the Kondo test, bringing joy and killing germs wherever they’re swiped.
Fragrance-Free, Plant-Based Dish Soap
Guilt-free, worry-free cleaning, leaving your dishes residue-free.
I once made the mistake of buying an apple-scented dish soap. I don’t know where that fruity, nasal-assaulting smell would work well, but I can say for sure I wouldn’t want to be cooped up in an RV with it for any amount of time. That’s where this gallon of concentrated dish soap shines. Your dishes will sparkle without your nose facing an onslaught of overbearing odor.
It’s Paraben-free, of course, without phthalates, MEA, DEA, dyes and triclosan. Which means your skin will thank you, along with your nose. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and septic tank-safe, ready for the heaviest duty, even in the tiniest spaces.
Pricing starts on Amazon at $19.99.
Natural, Biodegradable Kitchen Sponges
Compostable and effective sponging without clogging landfills.
I’m not going to hide it any longer: My sponges gross me out. They spend all of their working days rubbing up against my grossest of messes — and let’s be honest about how many of them I’ve deposited into landfills after only a few uses. (A lot.) Making matters worse, they’re mostly made of plastic.
Fortunately, the folks at Airnex have the perfect product to replace those icky scrubbers. It’s a sponge made from plant-based, biodegradable cellulose and coconut husk. Because the cleaning material is so porous, it dries faster than traditional sponges, reducing the buildup of gross smells or unhealthy germs. And it’s so earth-friendly that you can even compost the white spongy section. My favorite review says, “I feel good about using it, as it contains no plastic or other harmful substances.” That’s the kind of feel-good joy sparking I’m looking for in my cleaning products!
Pricing starts on Amazon at $15.26.
Antibac Bathroom Cleaner from Method
A safer, residue-free tool in the fight against germs.
The lineup of microorganisms that this stuff kills reads like a who’s-who of recall-inducers, including household germs including staphylococcus aureus, influenza, a flu virus, rhinovirus, escherichia coli, enterobacter aerogenes and salmonella enterica. The list goes on from there, as it will kill 99.9 percent of germs.
It pains me to think that I’ve spent this much of my life using products that have the same cleaning power, but also deposit chemicals onto every surface they touch. But no longer!
Pricing starts on Amazon at $3.78.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Flush all other toilet bowl cleaners forever.
The people who market this product hit the nail on the head with their brand name, which is, “Better Life.” Because when it comes to cleaning supplies, a better life is only achievable by products that do what they say they’re going to do. This product says it’s going to clean your toilets.
And you don’t have to read too far into the reviews to see that it does just that. One reads, “I really love this toilet cleaner because it is organic & still does the job and it does it good.” And another good summary, “The best ever!” Like all the items on this list, it also has plant-based cleaning agents, a must for any RV toilet system.
Pricing starts on Amazon at $12.10.
Multi-Surface All Purpose Cleaning Spray
Removes plastics from the globe and germs from surfaces.
Using refillable bottles is a great way to reduce waste. Blueland’s multi-purpose cleaning spray doesn’t just come with refills—the refills are tablet-based, requiring up to ten times less packaging and storage space. According to Blueland, this approach is so effective that they’ve helped eliminate over 1 billion plastic cleaning bottles. The solution is safe for both kids and pets, and several reviews report a great scent.
Like all our choices on this list, most importantly, Blueland has crammed a ton of cleaning power into this bottle. They’ve even had it scientifically tested, with the description declaring that the product is, “Proven by independent labs to power away dirt and grime on stovetops, countertops, sealed stone, wood and more. Tested alongside leading competitors. Scientist developed with over 40 patents and patents pending.” That’s some serious cleaning cred.
Pricing starts on Amazon at $21.99.
Window and Mirror Cleaner
Live the streak-free, globe-friendly life.
If sparkling windows that don’t come at the expense of our earth don’t spark joy for you, then I don’t know what will. ATTITUDE is appropriately named, with a straightforward company tagline of, “No nasties, less impact, no compromise on performance. That’s the essence of their glass cleaner.
In the bottle you’ll find none of the gross stuff. And after you use it on your windows, you’ll find none of the gross stuff there either.
Pricing starts on Amazon at $17.54.
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